Archive for: auto
In the world of high-end car audio, one of the biggest names you’ll constantly hear is that of Pioneer. For many years, they’ve been known for their audio products. However, they are so much more than that. In fact, the biggest focus on today’s press conference didn’t have anything to do with the traditional Pioneer audio electronics, and instead focused solely on integration with smartphones — particularly the iPhone — as well as social and multimedia services. There’s plenty more to know, however. Hop inside for the full rundown…
Consumer electronics company and mobile wireless accessory manufacturer, Parrot, revealed a new connected car audio receiver tonight at CES: Unveiled. The “Parrot ASTEROID” is powered by Google’s Android operating system and ships with a GPS key that when combined with a 3G key (purchased separately) can bring literally anything and everything into your car and display it front and center on your dashboard. Everything from weather, to news, to streaming Last.fm can be accomplished with this head unit, and any iPod or other MP3 player can be attached via USB ports on the back of the device as well as paired via Bluetooth.
As for sonic qualities, the unit features (2) pairs of RCA pre-amp outputs and a separate RCA output for a subwoofer. Specifics are still being obtained as is pricing. However, users can expect the ASTEROID’s release in Q1 for France, Spain, Italy, UK, Germany, Benelux and Q2 for the United States.
Keep checking back! Gallery after the jump.
[Press Release] — PDF
If you’re a resident of Michigan and currently dote around in an electric vehicle, you’re going to want to add Meijer to the list of places to stop — for necessity and food. Julie Croll, Senior Vice President of Properties and Real estate at the popular Hypermarket, announced that the company is currently in the process of installing new electric vehicle chargers (in partner with Coulomb Technologies) at several of their Michigan stores, though the first station is already live in Warren, Michigan. Allen Park and Holland are the next to Mejier locations scheduled for installation.
The best part for consumers is that each one of these SAE J1772-compliant stations are 100% free, and provide 110v or 220v charging options. Right now, the maximum number stations per store is two. Croll added, however, that up to 20 more Meijer stations would be “electrified” by the end of 2011.
Any mid-westerners going to make the trek up to Michigan to check the new charging stations out?
Land Rover’s aren’t cheap. This is no secret. But when money is no object and you bathe in fine caviar and smoke the finest cigars, a tricked out Range Rover is the only answer to mobile luxury. The Design Q designed Range Rover is marketed as a private jet on wheels. Lavish goodies such as extra seat room, personal mini spa, humidor, and plenty of other over-the-top features ensure your bank account will bleed deep, dark red before all is said and done.
Anyone up for a cocoanut facial and Brazilian wax while doing 90 on the highway through downtown Iraq? Yeah, I’ll pass…
Fancy saving a tree or two and happen to title yourself a nerd? There’s no doubt that Chevy’s ambitions Volt project has been a long time coming. Since the truck market bombed out a few years back, they’ve been scrambling to catch up to other manufacturers more fuel efficient and alternative fuel-powered vehicles. And up until now, the biggest mystery about the Volt was the price. Price it to high no one will buy it. Lucky for consumers, it looks like Chevy will make it relatively affordable, at a now confirmed base price of $41,000. Interested parties may even get a stab at the electric wonder vehicle for a far cheaper price, however. At stake is a tax credit totaling up to $7,500 as well as leasing options. Speaking of the latter, the leasing program looks like it’ll hit a little closer to more individuals’ homes with a $350 monthly payment and $2,500 due at signing.
But what good is a hot new geek car with relatively new and untested reliability without decent warranties and protection from the factory? Oh dear reader, jump on in and find out…
I’ve seen some pretty creative forms of transportation with a geeky flair before, but the QWERTY Car is quite possibly one of the geekiest (and coolest I might add) that I’ve seen yet. One thing is for certain, placing all of those keys was anything but fun. The end result is well worth it however. Just imagine taking this think for a spin and how many double, triple, and downright full on stares you’d get. The car that resides underneath the plethora of keys isn’t anything special mind you — it’s all about the geek factor here. That I can definitely admire. Would you drive it?
**Check out the “Dark Roasted Blend” link below and scroll down a little ways — Runner up for geekiest car goes to the Floppy Disc Car.
Fark > BitRebels > Dark Roasted Blend
- February 25, 2010 9:16 pm
For the more classic “hot rod” guy or overall car guru, countless cars fill their dreams. Many of them have vast amounts of horsepower, torque, cylinders, and so on. For a geek car however, the requirements are a tad different. Normally instead of how many liters does it have, we’re asking about speakers and TV screens. But there’s one thing we can all agree on, crazy fast is cool. The Tesla electric sports car is one such car that has the rare power to seduce both gear heads and geeks alike. It’s all electric nature has nerd written all over it and it’s modest 248-horse rating hide a rather caged animal who will run sub-4 second runs to 60 all day long — well, until the battery dies that is.
Until now, picking up such a fine piece of engineering would cost your upwards of $100k up front. Either feeling the economy pinch or growing a heart, Tesla is making the geek’s hot rod more easily available with a new leasing option. A cool $1,658 per month will give you all the electric power you’ve ever wanted with no strings attached at the end (save for a “small fee”). Though, if by the end of your extended honeymoon you still feel like taking your bride home, Tesla will do your right by that as well, giving you the option to purchase the car outright.
Whataya say? Is nearly $1,700/month too much to ask for to drive around the hottest all electric (and downright coolest) sports car on the market right now?
VentureBeat
- February 24, 2010 12:14 pm
I really try my hardest not to let preconceived notions and conclusions from clouding my ability to reason and judge a gadget fairly. But this wonder gadget, aka “The Current Regulating Efficiency Booster“. Generally speaking, when a gadget that promises so much, costs so little, and has a name or catch phrase a mile long, your red flags should start waving loud and hard. To some, $80 may seem like a fair chunk of change for a “novelty” gadget. But this is an auto gadget, which, are often priced fairy high to begin with.
The real thing running through your heads right about now however is probably “How does it work”. Let’s let the manufacturer, Hammacher Schlemmer, handle that one…
“The device simply plugs into a vehicle’s DC outlet and stabilizes the electrical current flowing to the electrical control unit (ECU)–the computer that controls the engine’s fuel injection and ignition systems–to improve gas mileage. The device mitigates electrical interference from the stereo, lights, air conditioning, and more that can negatively affect the ECU’s ability to optimize fuel injection and fuel efficiency.”
So, simply plugging in some bundled metal and plastic and then jamming it into a cigarette lighter will give me up to 18% fuel efficiency gains? Ya, not so much. Also weighing in on the side of common sense is the fact that this device was only tested on one, count it one, car. Further adding fuel to this speculation driven fire is that only cars older than 2 years and with 12V systems can even benefit from the CREB (I took the liberty of shortening that mouthful for you).
Let’s recap: $80 for some plastic and small traces of metal that when plugged into your cigarette lighter magically transform wasted electrons into extra gas mileage…? I’m not saying avoid this at all costs. Just hold off on purchasing this until someone actually tests if across a large test bed of vehicles. How’s 2040 sound to you?
BTW, any auto-engineers or just electrical engineers in general want to weigh in on the validity of such claims?
CrunchGear
When riding in the Pac-Man car, try not to ram other colored cars in hopes of eating them with your grill. While in Pac-Man/video game world, such moves are encouraged and aid in the advancement of Pac-Man, in reality world with modern physics and such, doing so is likely to result in multiple headaches for you. The individual who created the Pac-Man car shown above definitely went all out. Every square inch of this car is in some form or another Pac-Man-ized. I’d drive it down the road wouldn’t you. It’s cool! The only question is, does the horn make any Pac-Man sounds? More pictures inside..
